The Dubai International Film Festival will be held once every two years, organizers announced on Wednesday.
"The strategic shift aims to embrace the significant changes taking place in the region's creative and entertainment landscape," organizers said on the festival's website.
Jamal Al Sharif, Chairman Dubai Film and TV Commission, said in statement: “With the vast changes taking place both in the regional and global movie-making and content industry, we are seeking to redefine the Dubai International Film Festival’s approach towards nurturing growth, creativity and talent.”
“Innovative new approaches and technologies are transforming the distribution of content and the craft of movie-making. As a forward-thinking player in the global film industry, DIFF seeks to embrace the future of the industry through this strategic shift.”
The next edition of the festival, the top cinematic event in the Arab world, will be held in 2018.
The 2019 dates are yet to be determined.
The film festival began in 2004 and has hosted stars from Hollywood, Bollywood and Arabic films.
